Signaling system



Jan.18,1927. 1,614,491

- l E. F. POTTER siGNAYLING SYSTEM l Filed July 15, 1922 I Arf A. lvm

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Patented i J n n. 18, 1927.

, uNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE. A

EARLE F. POTTER, OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS. ASSIGNOR T0 THE lPOTTER. SPECIALTIES COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

,Application led July 15,

My invention relates to signaling systems.

An object ot my invention is thc provi*I sion of an improved combined tail and signaling lamp for use upon automobiles, or in fact,vany`vehicle, and arranged so as'to at all times perform the ordinary functions ot a tail lamp as well as to illuminate the license number or license plate it desired, and which. may in addition, be caused to display a stop warning or other signal.

Another object is to attain the above ends in a simple, improved, inexpensive and elticient manner. i

A further object is .the provision of means which will be ,reliable and give clear and effective indications. i

Still further objects are to avoid material alteration of the tail lamps and accompanying circuits now employed and to provide means which may be quickly, simply and conveniently installed withouttheL aid ot a mechanic.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as' this description proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing which shows diagrammatically an illustrative circuit embodying the invention.

In the drawing 5 designates the taill lamp which may be arranged within the usual or f pending application,

any preferred casing and mounted in any suitable .position such, for instance, as at the rear of the vehicle or otherwise as desired. The lamp 5, oneend of which is grounded. as shown yat 6 is supplied through aconductor 7 which conductor extends to an'd is connected with a battery or other suitable source 8. Theropposite end of the source 8 is shown as being grounded at 9.

A relay 10 of the type disclosed in my co- Ser. No. 468,921 filed May 12,l 1921, is'preterably connected electrcally intothe conductor 7 and to alamp 11 to indicate through said` lamp 11 the condition of the'signalingcircuit and apprise the driver or other occupant'of the vehicle when said circuit fails to perform its proper functions. Thel condition indicating lamp 1 1 isshown as'being grounded at 12.

The relay 10 is shown as comprising a winding 30 surrounding a'core 32 and con- J nected at 33 thereto. A pivoted arm 134 at- 1922. Serial'No. 575,229.

tracted by' the core 32 upon a flow ot current through the winding 30 which winding is in series circuit in thelline 7, closes the circuit throughthe lamp 11.'

The circuit from the battery 8 to the lamp 5 by way of the conductor 7 is controlled by a switch 13,' which switch may be a brake pedal controlled switch, as shown, or a switch for operation by hand from a point adjacent the drivers seat. Conductors 14 and 15 provide a shunt circuit from the sour e 8 to 'the lamp 5 around the switch 125 and relay 10. Thiszf'circuit is Vprovided with the usual'switch 16 by means of which switch the tail light is turned'on 'for use as a tail light at nightand extinguished in the usual manner. vA resistance 17 in the shunt circuit 1Ll15 diminishes the voltage impressed upon the. lampA 5 by way 'of the circuit 14-15 to dim or decrease the light given out by the lamp 5 preferably to a point where it is just sufficient for the usual tail light purposes. When the brake is ap.

plied or the switch 13V otherwise closed upon a contemplated change in movement of the vehicle, a flow is immediately set up to the lamp 5 by way of the conductor 7, short circuiting the resistance 17 and lighting the lamp 5 to its full capacity and thereby in# dicating a stop, diminution in speed or other change. in the movement of the vehicle.

While of course the size of the incandescent lamp 5 and the amount ofdimming thereof may be varied, I find .that highly` satisfactory results may be secured with a lamp ofabout 21 c. p. dimmed to about 2 c. p., for ordinary tail light purposes.

It will now be apparent that there need .be no alteration of the usual tail lamp casings, etc., now in use. The only changes necessary are where the incandescent lamp in the. tail lamp is not ofthe proper size to replace'the vsame with oneof the proper size and to insert the dimming coil or re-` sistance 17 and properly connect the circuits The particularmanner of' dimming the combined tail and stop light and the particular circuit connections maybe varied within the scope of my invention. i The pilot light 11 indicates to the driver as to whether or not the lamp 5 is functioning properly as a st 'op signal and from such indications i the driver isat the same time apprised that Ysaid light around said dimming means and aroundsaid extinguishing means to light the light at mei-eased brllllancy n'respectlve of whether the dimming circuit is open or closed.

2. The combination with a rear vehicle light and a source of current, of a circuit connection between, said light and said source including means for dimming thie light and means for closing said circuit connection to give a normally lighted dimmed tail light indication at night and for open? ing Isaid circuit connection to extinguish said tail 'light indication' during the day, a second circuit connection between said source and said tail light, andswitch means in said second circuit connection for completing a circuit from said source through said rear light around said dimming megns and around the opening and vclosing means in said rst'circuit connction' to light said light at increased brilliancy for the purpose of giving a stop Warning during the day or night and irrespective of Whether the dimming circuit is open or closed.

3. In a signaling system for Vehicles, an incandescent lamp, a' resistance coil, a switch for including said resistance coil in said lamp circuit to dim saidlamp and give a tail light indication, and a switch for completing said lamp circuit around said resistance coil and around said first switch to display a stop warning by increasing the brilliaucy of the lamp.

4. The combination with the rear light Y.

of a vehicle, of means for lighting said light at low brilliancy to give a normally lighted tail lightv indication at night, meansfor extinguishing the tail light indication during the day and means for lighting said light at increased brilliancy to give a signal warning during the day or night and irrespective lof Whether the light is lighted at-its lovs7 tail light'brilliancy or extinguished.

5. The combination with a vehicleof an incandescent light having relatively vgreat brilliancy operable to signal a change in movement of thevehicle during the day and at night and means for decreasing the brilliancy v.of said light to give anormally lighted tail light indication at night.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 22 day of June, 1922.

- EARLE F; POTTER( 

